Yoshinofuji Naoya (Japanese: 義ノ富士 直哉; born as Kusano Naoya, 草野 直哉 (June 25, 2001)) is a Japanese professional sumo…
Yoshinofuji Naoya (Japanese: 義ノ富士 直哉; born as Kusano Naoya, 草野 直哉 (June 25, 2001)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Uto, Kumamoto. He made his debut in May 2024 and currently wrestles for Isegahama stable. He reached the jūryō division in March 2025. His highest rank has been komusubi. He was a runner-up in his top makuuchi division debut in July 2025, where he was considered a top contender for most of its duration, also winning the Fighting Spirit and Technique awards. He changed his ring name from Kusano to Yoshinofuji prior to the November 2025 tournament.
Famous People from Kumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture: 13 people
Takakento Terutora (貴健斗 輝虎), born February 10, 1996, as Kento Mizuta (水田 健斗, Mizuta Kento) is a Japanese professional…
Takakento Terutora (貴健斗 輝虎), born February 10, 1996, as Kento Mizuta (水田 健斗, Mizuta Kento) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Yatsushiro, Kumamoto. Wrestling for Minatogawa stable (the former Tokiwayama stable), his highest rank is jūryō 4.
Chiyohakuhō Daiki (born 21 April 1983 as Daiki Kakiuchi) is a former sumo wrestler from Yamaga, Kumamoto, Japan. He…
Chiyohakuhō Daiki (born 21 April 1983 as Daiki Kakiuchi) is a former sumo wrestler from Yamaga, Kumamoto, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1999 and broke into the top makuuchi division nine years later in 2008. His highest rank was maegashira 6. He wrestled for Kokonoe stable. After he admitted to his involvement in match-fixing, he retired from the sport in 2011 following an investigation by the Japan Sumo Association.
Tomonohana Shinya (born 23 June 1964 as Shinya Narimatsu) is a former sumo wrestler from Yatsushiro, Kumamoto…
Tomonohana Shinya (born 23 June 1964 as Shinya Narimatsu) is a former sumo wrestler from Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. He is now a sumo coach.
Sadanoumi Kōji (佐田の海 鴻嗣) (born 19 July 1956 as Kōji Matsumara (松村 宏司, Matsumura Kōji)) is a former sumo wrestler from…
Sadanoumi Kōji (佐田の海 鴻嗣) (born 19 July 1956 as Kōji Matsumara (松村 宏司, Matsumura Kōji)) is a former sumo wrestler from Sakai, Osaka, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1972, and reached the top division in November 1980. His highest rank was komusubi. He retired in July 1988 and became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Tagonoura. He left the Sumo Association in August 1999. He is the father of the current sekitori wrestler of the same name, Sadanoumi Takashi.
Yoshioyama Osamu (born 20 May 1949 as Osamu Yoshimura) is a former sumo wrestler from Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, Japan. He…
Yoshioyama Osamu (born 20 May 1949 as Osamu Yoshimura) is a former sumo wrestler from Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1965 and reached the top division in November 1969. His highest rank was maegashira 2. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Onogawa. He left the Sumo Association in January 1977.
Shiratayama Hidetoshi (born 25 December 1943 as Hidetoshi Shirata) is a former sumo wrestler from Kagami, Kumamoto…
Shiratayama Hidetoshi (born 25 December 1943 as Hidetoshi Shirata) is a former sumo wrestler from Kagami, Kumamoto, Japan. He made his professional debut in September July 1959 and reached the top division in March 1971. His highest rank was maegashira 4. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association, under the name Tanigawa. He reached the Sumo Association's mandatory retirement age in December 2008.
Tensuiyama Masanori (born 8 December 1940 as Masanori Ikeda) is a former sumo wrestler from Tensui, Kumamoto, Japan. He…
Tensuiyama Masanori (born 8 December 1940 as Masanori Ikeda) is a former sumo wrestler from Tensui, Kumamoto, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1956, and reached the top division in May 1965. His highest rank was maegashira 10. He left the sumo world upon retirement in September 1968.
Fukunohana Koichi (born 1 July 1940 as Koichi Fukushima) is a former sumo wrestler from Kōshi, Kumamoto, Japan. He made…
Fukunohana Koichi (born 1 July 1940 as Koichi Fukushima) is a former sumo wrestler from Kōshi, Kumamoto, Japan. He made his professional debut in January 1958 and reached the top division in September 1965. His highest rank was sekiwake. He retired in November 1975. He had been scheduled to fight Kashiwado in July 1969 and Taihō in May 1971, but on both occasions received a fusensho or win by default because the yokozuna both announced their retirements. Fukunohana had never beaten Taihō in the ring, losing to him ten straight times. He made his only appearance at sekiwake in January 1971, by which time he was already over 30, unusually old for a sekiwake debut at that time. He was three times a tournament runner-up, earned seven special prizes for Fighting Spirit and five gold stars for defeating yokozuna. In January 1970 he knocked out ōzeki Kitanofuji with a harite or strike with the open hand, a legitimate sumo move, and acquired the nickname "flower of the hook," a play on his shikona Fukunohana. He became a mentor to Mienoumi, who was a fellow member of Dewanoumi stable, and said that he would not retire until Mienoumi reached the rank of ōzeki. After six straight make-koshi or losing scores in the top division, he announced his retirement after the November 1975 tournament, when Mienoumi's promotion to ōzeki was confirmed. He became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Sekinoto, working as a coach at Dewanoumi stable. His wife was the daughter of a previous owner of the Sekinoto elder name, former komusubi Wakashima. He became a special executive in 2000. He left the Sumo Association in 2005 upon turning 65 years of age. From 2009 until 2011 a junior wrestler at Dewanoumi stable, whose real name was Fukumoto, was given permission to use the Fukunohana shikona.
Tochihikari Masayuki (29 August 1933 – 28 March 1977) was a sumo wrestler from Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan who reached…
Tochihikari Masayuki (29 August 1933 – 28 March 1977) was a sumo wrestler from Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan who reached the second highest rank of ōzeki in 1962. He joined Kasugano stable in 1952 and reached the top makuuchi division in 1955. He never won a top division championship but was a tournament runner-up four times. He was promoted to ōzeki in May 1962 alongside his stablemate Tochinoumi. He fought as an ōzeki for 22 tournaments but lost the rank after recording three consecutive losing scores and immediately announced his retirement in January 1966. He became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association under the name Chiganoura. He was a judge of tournament bouts and was involved in both the incorrect decision to award a win to Toda that stopped Taiho's 45 bout winning streak in March 1969 and the famous decision in January 1972 to declare Kitanofuji the winner over Takanohana by kabai-te. He died of rectal cancer at the age of 43. His shikona of Tochihikari was subsequently used by a later wrestler from Kasugano stable, also known as Kaneshiro Kofuku.
Shiranui Dakuemon (Japanese: 不知火 諾右衛門; October 1801 – August 20, 1854, name also read as Shiranui Nagiemon) was a…
Shiranui Dakuemon (Japanese: 不知火 諾右衛門; October 1801 – August 20, 1854, name also read as Shiranui Nagiemon) was a Japanese sumo wrestler from Uto, Higo Province. He was the sport's 8th yokozuna, and is the only yokozuna in history to have been demoted.
Yoshiazuma Hiroshi (Japanese: 芳東 洋; born 26 May 1977 as Hiroshi Ishihara (石原 洋, Ishihara Hiroshi)) is a Japanese…
Yoshiazuma Hiroshi (Japanese: 芳東 洋; born 26 May 1977 as Hiroshi Ishihara (石原 洋, Ishihara Hiroshi)) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Kashima, Kumamoto. He made his professional debut in January 1996 and reached the top division in September 2011. His highest rank has been maegashira 12. The fifteen years it took him to reach the top division is the third-slowest progress ever, in the history of professional sumo wrestling. He has not missed a bout in his career to date, and in September 2023 moved into the top ten record holders for most consecutive bouts.
Shōdai Naoya (正代 直也; born November 5, 1991) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Uto, Kumamoto. He is in the…
Shōdai Naoya (正代 直也; born November 5, 1991) is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Uto, Kumamoto. He is in the Tokitsukaze stable. He is a right hand inside-type wrestler. His highest rank is ōzeki. He has two gold stars for defeating a yokozuna and seven special prizes, six for Fighting Spirit and one for Outstanding Performance. He was runner-up in two tournaments before winning his first top-division championship in September 2020.